Salkow was educated at the City College of New York, Columbia University, and Harvard Law School.

After school, he returned to New York City and became an assistant director of theater and playwright.

But soon, after achieving the ranks, he became a prolific writer/director of such films as Sitting Bull, Twice-Told Tales (1963), and The Last Man on Earth (1964), the last two both star Vincent Price.

During World War II, Salkow was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps rising to the rank of Major.

[2] Additionally, Salkow directed episodes of many popular TV series including Lassie, The Cisco Kid, and The Addams Family.